Surprise! Welcome to our first ever Half Baked Episode, our version of a minisode!  We wanted to get some extra history in this week because not only is it Black History Month, but the day of this episode's release, February 11th, is Women and Girls in Science Day.  In this episode, Laurel talks about Katherine Johnson, who was one of the first Black women to work at NASA.  She worked there for 33 years as a mathematician and was a master of very complex calculations that directly allowed for manned spacecrafts, the lunar landing and for the safe return of the Apollo 13 crew.  Join Laurel in the smoke circle as we learn about the amazing Katherine Johnson!

What does "STEM" mean? STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.  It's a section of education and industry of which women only make up roughly 28%.  It's far less when you get into individual fields, such as computer science in which women are only 19% of the workforce (source: American Association of University Women.)  Jobs in these fields are some of the fastest growing and highest paid.

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The Socials!

Email -- [email protected]

Instagram -- @hightailinghistory

Facebook -- Hightailing Through History or with user name @hightailinghistory

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Resources to help support women and girls in STEM--

https://www.teachthought.com/technology/40-important-stem-resources-for-women/

https://edventures.com/blogs/stempower/10-resources-to-help-you-empower-girls-in-stem

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Source Materials--

Fox, Margalit. “Katherine Johnson Dies at 101; Mathematician Broke Barriers at NASA.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 Feb. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/02/24/science/katherine-johnson-dead.html.

Gates, Henry Louis, and Robert F Smith. “Black History In Two Minutes ‘Katherine Johnson.’” Season 3, episode 31, 27 Mar. 2020.

Episode for the podcast, Black History In Two Minutes (or so) originally was released on    March 27, 2020.

JOHNSON, KATHERINE. REACHING FOR THE MOON: the Autobiography of Nasa Mathematician Katherine Johnson. ATHENEUM CHILDREN'S Books, 2020.

Lewis, Russell. “Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician And An Inspiration For 'Hidden Figures,' Dies.” NPR, NPR, 24 Feb. 2020, www.npr.org/2020/02/24/517784975/katherine-johnson-nasa-mathematician-and-an-inspiration-for-hidden-figures-dies.

Stauss, Joanna. “Katherine Johnson: Pioneering NASA Mathematician.” Space.com, Space, 27 Feb. 2020, www.space.com/katherine-johnson.html.

Wild, Flint. “Who Was Katherine Johnson?” NASA, NASA, 30 Dec. 2016, www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/who-was-katherine-johnson-k4.

It's time for episode 26!  In this episode, we both cover different warrior women.  The first, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, was a warrior of the pen and the second, were the (possible?) female Viking warriors known as shield maidens.  

This episode is all about the laaaaaadies...

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The Socials!

Email -- [email protected]

Instagram -- @hightailinghistory

Facebook -- Hightailing Through History or with user name @hightailinghistory

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Source Materials:

Ida B. Wells-Barnett--

biography.com editors. “Ida B. Wells.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 6 Jan. 2021, https://www.biography.com/activist/ida-b-wells.

Mahon, Elizabeth Kerri. “Ida B. Wells-Barnett.” Scandalous Women: The Lives and Loves of History's Most Notorious Women, TarcherPerigee, an Imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, New York, NY, 2016, pp. 146–153.

Norwood, Arlisha R. “Ida B. Wells-Barnett.” National Women's History Museum, 2017, https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/ida-b-wells-barnett.

Steptoe, Tyina. “Ida Wells-Barnett (1862-1931) •.” Ida Wells-Barnett (1862-1931), Blackpast.org, 6 May 2020, https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/barnett-ida-wells-1862-1931/.

Shield Maidens--

AnnaLouise. “Did Shield Maidens like 'Vikings' Lagertha Really Exist?” Asgard, 1 Feb. 2019, https://www.asgard.scot/blog/2019/02/did-shieldmaidens-like-vikings-lagertha-and-norsemens-fr%C3%B8ya-really-exist. 

Debutify. “Did Viking Shield Maidens Really Exist?” VikingsBrand, https://www.vikingsbrand.co/blogs/norse-news/vikings-shield-maiden. 

Dimuro, Gina. “Viking Herstory: How Viking Shieldmaidens like Hervor Forged Their Own Legends.” All That's Interesting, All That's Interesting, 26 July 2019, https://allthatsinteresting.com/viking-shieldmaidens. 

Google Search, Google, https://www.google.com/search?q=where%2Bis%2Bbirka%2Blocated&client=ms-android-tmus-us-revc&sxsrf=APq-WBvDGSMmQ9hvNOns9TXjktnI-q8J5w%3A1644200142427&ei=zoAAYo2jGcCmptQPra-6oA0&oq=where%2Bis%2Bbirka%2Blocated&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyBAgjECcyAggAOgcIIxCwAxAnOgUIABCwAzoHCCMQsAIQJ0oECEEYAVDEFliCMWDFPWgAcAB4AIABbYgB9gSSAQM2LjGYAQCgAQHIAQLAAQE&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp. 

“Shieldmaidens: Myth or Reality?” World, http://www.worldtreeproject.org/exhibits/show/miscon/shieldmaidens

Hey smoke circle!

We are thrilled to introduce you to our other history loving friend, TK, and her podcast For the Love of History.  

Laurel happened upon this show about a year ago and just fell in love with it.  Now, we get the opportunity to introduce TK to our friends here! 

For the Love of History is a free show with a long, binge-able list of amazing and truly fun episode topics.  You can find For the Love of History on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your favorite podcasts! 

For the Love of History iTunes Page

Spotify Page

Hello everyone! 

Surprise, we're popping in early to let you know that for 2022 and going forward indefinitely we are moving to a biweekly schedule.  It's going to give us a little more breathing room for research and editing on top of our "real jobs" *insert eye roll here*

That means this week Friday, January 14th will be dark but we'll be back on the 21st!  See you really soon with some GREAT stories! 

Welcome to episode 24, the first episode of 2022!  How do you feel about sports history? In this episode, the sisters have a haunted moment in KT's house and then KT wins the bottle, leaf, grinder and tells the story of the suspicious death of famed racehorse, Alydar.  

**Note: The defendants in this trial have not been charged in a wrongful death of the horse and have already served their time for other charges that have been brought during the course of the investigation.  Our discussion around the circumstances of this case are either retold from articles covering this case or our own opinions and speculation.  

Afterwards, Laurel lifts the mood with the story of the The Harlem Globetrotters, who have been breaking racial and gender barriers in basketball, bringing joy for over 90 years, and still going strong today! 

Mentioned in the Stories:

Affirmed v. Alydar in 10 Races

Meadowlark Lemon Being Iconic

Legends Circle 

Tour Schedule

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The Socials!

Email -- [email protected]

Instagram -- @hightailinghistory

Facebook -- Hightailing Through History or with user name @hightailinghistory

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Source Materials:

Alydar--

“Alydar.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Jan. 2022, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alydar.

Dixon, Tom. “Alydar's Final Hours.” Bloodhorse.com, 14 Nov. 2014, https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/features/alydars-final-hours-21207.

“The Killing of Alydar.” Google, Google, https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.texasmonthly.com/articles/the-killing-of-alydar/amp/.

“The Mysterious Death of a Champion Stallion.” Sports History Weekly, https://www.sportshistoryweekly.com/stories/triple-crown-alydar-affirm-calumet-farm-horse-racing-breeding,954

Harlem Globetrotters--

Blackfive.org Editors. “Savoy Big Five: The Black Fives Foundation.” The Black Fives Foundation | Make History Now!, 17 Oct. 2020, https://www.blackfives.org/savoy-big-five/.

Carr, Taylor. “Harlem Globetrotters (1926- ) •.” Blackpast.org, Blackpast.org, 22 May 2009, https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/harlem-globetrotters-1926/.

harlemglobetrotters.com editors. “About: Our History.” The Original Harlem Globetrotters, https://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/About.

Johnson, Scott. “How the Harlem Globetrotters Changed the World.” Newsweek, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2017, https://www.newsweek.com/history-harlem-globetrotters-basketball-555654.

Klein, Christopher. “10 Things You May Not Know about the Harlem Globetrotters.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 5 May 2021, https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-harlem-globetrotters.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  *cue confetti, streamers, mirror ball, high jinks...also...high and jinks*

We're still celebrating the holiday season and this final episode of 2021 brings the stories of Queen Mother Nana Yaa Asantewaa and the Ashanti Uprising, also known as the War of the Golden Stool.  Next, KT keeps the holiday feeling going with the legend of Krampus!  Hope you weren't on the naughty list!   

Welcome to 2022, It Looks Good on You...With a Joint...or Two?....we're...workshopping a new slogan for 2022.  (We'll keep at it.)

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The Socials!

Email -- [email protected]

Instagram -- @hightailinghistory

Facebook -- Hightailing Through History or with user name @hightailinghistory

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Mentioned in the Stories:

The Golden Stool (laid on its side with the golden bells gathered up on the chair it rests on)

Krampusnacht Parade Video

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Source Materials:

Yaa Asantewaa--

Libertarianism.org, 31 July 2019, https://www.libertarianism.org/columns/african-heroes-freedom-queen-mother-yaa-asantewaa-ejisu.

Ewusi, Philip. “The Golden Stool (17th c.- ) .” The Golden Stool (17th c.- ) •, Blackpast.org, 20 Dec. 2019, https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/golden-stool-17th-c/.

Korsah, Chantal. “Yaa Asantewaa.” Dangerous Women Project, The University of Edinburgh, 21 July 2016, https://dangerouswomenproject.org/2016/07/22/yaa-asantewaa/.

Quintana, Maria. “Ashanti Empire/ Asante Kingdom (18th to Late 19th Century) •.” Blackpast.org, Blackpast.org, 5 Sept. 2019, https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/ashanti-empire-asante-kingdom-18th-late-19th-century/.

West, Racquel. “Yaa Asantewaa (Mid-1800s-1921) •.” Blackpast.org, Blackpast.org, 10 Oct. 2019, https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/yaa-asantewaa-mid-1800s-1921/.

“Wonders of the African World - Episodes - Slave Kingdoms.” Edited by PBS.org Editors, PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, https://www.pbs.org/wonders/Episodes/Epi3/3_wondr1.htm.

Krampus--

“Krampus.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/topic/Krampus.

Magazine, Smithsonian. “The Origin of Krampus, Europe's Evil Twist on Santa.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 4 Dec. 2015, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/krampus-could-come-you-holiday-season-180957438/.

“Meet Krampus, the Christmas Devil Who Punishes Naughty Children.” Google, Google, https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.history.com/.amp/news/krampus-christmas-legend-origin.

“The Truth behind the Legend of Krampus, Austria's Creepiest Holiday Tradition.” Google, Google, https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thetravel.com/is-krampus-a-true-story/amp/.

“Who Is Krampus? Explaining Santa Claus's Scary Christmas Counterpart.” Google, Google, https://www.google.com/amp/s/api.nationalgeographic.com/distribution/public/amp/history/article/131217-krampus-christmas-santa-devil

Merry Christmas Folks! Welcome to a Christmas Eve edition of Hightailing Through History.  We're feeling festive so spike that eggnog, grind the herb or grab yourself a cozy hot chocolate and spend some time with the sisters as we celebrate Christmas Eve festivities!  Starting with a beloved Christmas Eve tradition, Laurel tells us about the not-quite-so-sweet origins of the Santa Tracker, which has been going strong for over 65 years!  Afterwards, KT shares the very old story of the Christian bishop who would later become Santa Claus.  KT takes us through his origins as well as his evolution over the years and throughout different cultures.  

Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Festivus (one day late) from our family to yours! x x

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Mentioned in the Stories:

NORAD Tracks Santa!!

Santa Hotline (available Christmas Eve only) 1-877-HI-NORAD

The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus by Adam C. English

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The Socials!

Email -- [email protected]

Instagram -- @hightailinghistory

Facebook -- Hightailing Through History or with user name @hightailinghistory

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Source Materials:

NORAD Santa Tracker--

Klein, Christopher. “The Wrong Number That Launched the Santa Tracker.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 21 Dec. 2017, https://www.history.com/news/the-wrong-number-that-launched-the-santa-tracker.

Soniak, Matt. “Why Did Norad Start Tracking Santa?” Mental Floss, 19 Dec. 2016, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/32021/why-did-norad-start-tracking-santa.

Staff, NPR. “NORAD's Santa Tracker Began with a Typo and a Good Sport.” NPR, NPR, 19 Dec. 2014, https://www.npr.org/2014/12/19/371647099/norads-santa-tracker-began-with-a-typo-and-a-good-sport.

The Man Who Would Be Santa Claus--

“Saint Nicholas.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 31 Mar. 2021, https://www.biography.com/religious-figure/saint-nicholas.

“Santa Claus.” Edited by History.com Editors, History.com, A&E Television Networks, 16 Feb. 2010, https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/santa-claus#twas-the-night-before-christmas.

Staff, NPR. “Just Who Was the Real St. Nicholas?” NPR, NPR, 25 Dec. 2012, https://www.npr.org/2012/12/25/167977053/just-who-was-the-real-st-nicholas

We've turned 21! 21 episodes old that is...but let's still celebrate! *pops cork, grinds ouid*

This week's hightailing adventure takes us through the legend of the Christmas pickle told by KT!  Marketing scheme or sweet, fun German tradition?  Next, Laurel introduces us to First Lady (and maybe secret lady president?!), wife of Woodrow Wilson, Edith Bolling Wilson!  Find out some hidden American history with the sisters! Welcome to the smoke circle!

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The Socials!

Email -- [email protected]

Instagram -- @hightailinghistory

Facebook -- Hightailing Through History or with user name @hightailinghistory

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Source Materials:

Christmas Pickle--

Hershberger, Matt. “Why You Need to Stop Saying Your Pickle Ornament Is a German Tradition.” 10Best, USA TODAY 10Best, 21 Dec. 2020, https://www.10best.com/interests/food-culture/christmas-pickle-ornament-lie-not-german-tradition/.

JPC-DESIGN, whychristmas?com /. “The Christmas Pickle on Whychristmas?Com.” Why Christmas, https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/christmaspickle.shtml

Edith Wilson--

Anthony, Carl. “Edith Wilson: The First Lady Who Became an Acting President - without Being Elected.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 12 June 2020, https://www.biography.com/news/edith-wilson-first-president-biography-facts.

Hazelgrove, William Elliott. Madam President: The Secret Presidency of Edith Wilson. Regnery History, 2016.

History.com Editors. “Edith Wilson.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 16 Dec. 2009, https://www.history.com/topics/first-ladies/edith-wilson.

Kogan, Rick. “Historical Secret No Longer: We've Already Had a Female President.” Chicagotribune.com, Chicago Tribune, 17 Dec. 2018, https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-inauguration-edith-wilson-kogan-ent-0117-20170116-story.html.

Longley, Robert. “Have We Already Had a Woman President?” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 4 Apr. 2021, https://www.thoughtco.com/edith-wilson-4146035.

WoodrowWilsonHouse.org Editors. “League of Nations.” President Wilson House, 7 Jan. 2021, https://www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org/league-of-nations/.

Hey, we're happy you're here! Grab your favorite cozy spot in the smoke circle and get ready to hear some great stories in history.  First off, Laurel begins with the lead up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, which was 80 years ago the week of this episode release.  Find out about the decades of tension that led to the deadly date that will live in infamy.  Afterwards, KT takes us on a dog sled adventure through the frigid interior of Alaska to relay vital medicine to the people of Nome in the middle of a blizzard. You won't want to miss it!

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Mentioned in the Stories:

Britannica Map, Timeline and Infographic of Pearl Harbor during the Attack

Map of the Serum Run

Statue of Balto in Central Park, New York

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The Socials!

Email -- [email protected]

Instagram -- @hightailinghistory

Facebook -- Hightailing Through History or with user name @hightailinghistory

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Sources:

Pearl Harbor--

Editors of The National WWII Museum. “The Path to Pearl Harbor: The National WWII Museum: New Orleans.” The National WWII Museum | New Orleans, The National World War II Museum, 22 June 2017, https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/path-pearl-harbor.

Editors of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. “The Complicated Lead up to Pearl Harbor.” National Air and Space Museum, 7 Dec. 2016, https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/complicated-lead-pearl-harbor.

“A Pearl Harbor Timeline.” NPR, NPR, 7 Dec. 2004, https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4206060.

Pruitt, Sarah. “Why Did Japan Attack Pearl Harbor?” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 10 Apr. 2018, https://www.history.com/news/why-did-japan-attack-pearl-harbor.

Worrall, Simon. “How Racism, Arrogance, and Incompetence Led to Pearl Harbor.” How Racism, Arrogance, and Incompetence Led to Pearl Harbor, National Geographic, 3 May 2021, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/countdown-pearl-harbor-attack-twomey-anniversary.

Togo and the Serum Run--

“1925 Serum Run to Nome.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Dec. 2021, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925_serum_run_to_Nome.

“Disney's Togo vs. The True Story of the 1925 Serum Run to Nome.” Google, Google, https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/togo/.

Hank, Will. “Togo: Siberian Husky & Sled Dog Hero of the 1925 Nome Serum Run.” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 27 Aug. 2021, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/togo-siberian-husky-sled-dog-hero-of-1925/

“Rookie Meeting.” Iditarod Insider, https://iditarod.com/race-history/

“Togo (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, https://www.nps.gov/people/togo.htm#:~:text=Though%20Balto%20received%20the%20credit,at%20the%20age%20of%2016